L A Crocombe1, D S Brennan, G D Slade, J F Stewart, A J Spencer. 1. Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, School of Dentistry, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Centre for Rural Health, The University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to confirm whether the level of lifetime fluoridation exposure is associated with lower dental caries experience in younger adults (15-46 years). METHODS: Data of the cohort born between 1960 and 1990 residing outside Australia's capital cities from the 2004-2006 Australian National Survey of Adult Oral Health were analysed. Residential history questionnaires were used to determine the percentage of each person's lifetime exposure to fluoridated water (<50%/50+%). Examiners recorded decayed, missing and filled permanent teeth (DMFT). Socio-demographic variables, periodontal risk factors, and access to dental care were included in multivariable least-squares regression models. RESULTS: In bivariate analysis, the higher level of fluoridation category had significantly lower DMFT (mean 6.01 [SE=0.62]) than the lower level of fluoridation group (9.14 [SE=0.73] p<0.01) and lower numbers of filled teeth (4.08 [SE=0.43], 7.06 [SE=0.62], p<0.01). In multivariate analysis, the higher number of full-time equivalent dentists per 100,000 people was associated with a lower mean number of missing teeth (regression coefficient estimate=-1.75, p=0.03), and the higher level of water fluoridation with a lower mean DMFT (-2.45, p<0.01) and mean number of filled teeth (-2.52, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The higher level of lifetime fluoridation exposure was associated with substantially lower caries experience in younger rural adults, largely due to a lower number of filled teeth.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to confirm whether the level of lifetime fluoridation exposure is associated with lower dental caries experience in younger adults (15-46 years). METHODS: Data of the cohort born between 1960 and 1990 residing outside Australia's capital cities from the 2004-2006 Australian National Survey of Adult Oral Health were analysed. Residential history questionnaires were used to determine the percentage of each person's lifetime exposure to fluoridated water (<50%/50+%). Examiners recorded decayed, missing and filled permanent teeth (DMFT). Socio-demographic variables, periodontal risk factors, and access to dental care were included in multivariable least-squares regression models. RESULTS: In bivariate analysis, the higher level of fluoridation category had significantly lower DMFT (mean 6.01 [SE=0.62]) than the lower level of fluoridation group (9.14 [SE=0.73] p<0.01) and lower numbers of filled teeth (4.08 [SE=0.43], 7.06 [SE=0.62], p<0.01). In multivariate analysis, the higher number of full-time equivalent dentists per 100,000 people was associated with a lower mean number of missing teeth (regression coefficient estimate=-1.75, p=0.03), and the higher level of water fluoridation with a lower mean DMFT (-2.45, p<0.01) and mean number of filled teeth (-2.52, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The higher level of lifetime fluoridation exposure was associated with substantially lower caries experience in younger rural adults, largely due to a lower number of filled teeth.
Authors: A J Rugg-Gunn; A J Spencer; H P Whelton; C Jones; J F Beal; P Castle; P V Cooney; J Johnson; M P Kelly; M A Lennon; J McGinley; D O'Mullane; H D Sgan-Cohen; P P Sharma; W M Thomson; S M Woodward; S P Zusman Journal: Br Dent J Date: 2016-04 Impact factor: 1.626